Chess wheel

ABSTRACT

A tutorial device for teaching opening moves in the game of chess. The device comprises at least two flat members, each of which contains portions of an opening move sequence. The members are rotatably joined at their centers, and at least one member has a slot cut therein whereby information on another member is selectively exposed as the members are rotated.

United States Patent Ter-Gevorkian, deceased Nov. 19, 1974 1 CHESS WHEEL 2,834,123 5/1958 Knight 35/74 x 2 9 [76] Inventor: Vre Ter-Gevorklan, deceased, late 84914 5,196] Page at al 35/8 R f 3,070,903 1/1963 Weedfald 35/74 X 4313 Green Pond 3,071,322 l/l963 Harris... 35/74 B thl h 18 Aram 3,114,212 12/1963 Cisin 35 74 Sarhadran, admmlstrator 3,249,085 /1966 St. Jean /74 X 22 Filed: Ma 29 1973 1 y Primary ExammerWm. H. Grleb [21] App1. No.2 364,879 Attorney, Agent, or FirmGeorge A. l-leitczman [52] us. c1. 3s/s R [57] ABSTRACT 51 Int. Cl. 19/22 A tutorial devlce for teaching Opening moves in the [58] Field of Search 35/8 R, 9 R, 74 game of Chess- The device comprises at least two flat members, each of which contains portions of an open- 5 1 References Cited ing move sequence. The members are rotatably joined UNITED STATES PATENTS at their centers, and at least one member has a slot cut 1 therein whereby information on another member is 1,546,928 7/1925 Graham 35/74 X 2,111,268 M938 Kohenberger n 35,74 X selectively exposed as the members are rotated. 2,293,405 8/1942 Russell 35/74 X 10 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures 59 I 2 g1 58 a 4 6 q I12 5 e" //0 I08 ENGLISH OPENING e a :z 0 q A. FOUR KNlGHTS VARIATION L|L D, THREE KNIGHTS VARIATION 0 0 1. P QB4,P K4 1 I. P QB4,P K4 2 N 053,10 K83 2.N QB3,N Q33 $.N KB3,N Q53 3.N 83, P KN3 Q I 4. P-O4, PXF---I5 1 4. P-O4, PXP---55-56 II 41 P-O4, PO5--6,7 E,(2... P-Q3) VARIATION g m 4. F') 3, P o4----s l. P Q84, P K4 n2 4.PK3, s1 2--e,|o 2.N 083, P G3 356 Q) I 4.PK3, B-N5--ll-l4 I sin-as, BN5----57 g'g v 21 4.P-| N3,Bs4----l5 n 31PKN3,B-K3--5B mt 4.PKN3,BN5----15 F.(21 P-KBMVARIATWN 3 u I V m 4.P-KN3,PO4 ---l7 I04 I. P 084, P K4 '5 55%; w m 4 P-K4, a-a4---- a 2.N Q83, P K84 z fififi i V B-CARLS "BREMEN VARIATION & I a. N-Bs, NoB3-5s-s| E fififi m I. P QB4,P K4 11 3.? K3, N K83 s2 5 gg; sf 2.N 083, N KBS 111 3P o4, PXP s3 gg 3.P KN3 v 1v 3.P KN3,N O5: 54 a MEN; 5 I 3.PKN3,FO4-l9-29 DGELE stew-K53) VARIATION 35 231553 0 n 3.PKN3,PB3-3O3B I. P 054, P K4 3 q 111 3.PKN5,BB4----39 & 2.N K53 g N 11 3.PKN3,BN5-4D-43 I, I z N KE3,P K5 6: HHnflm 4 CLOSED VARIATION I H. SYMMETRICAL VARIATION 1. P 084, P K4 054, P Q84 2 2.N 053, N 083 N 083,10 Q55 0 a. KN3,P KN3 KN3,P KN3 a N2, 8 N2 as, R NI as as, N as e1 B3, N R3 ea 53, P 0R3 69 R OPENINGS LEFVISIQH v F PATENTE J SHEET ml: 3 3,848.34.)

CHESS WHEEL BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION victory.

The modem approach to chess considers the game as having three separate parts: the opening; the middle game; and the end. game. The strategy of the opening isto move the pieces from-their starting positions into a position of control, from which the middle game function of attrition of the opponents pieces can best be executed. The end game seeks to provide the most effective use of the pieces remaining after the middle game to achieve a checkmate if one has a superior position, or to force a draw if one has an inferior position.

' The techniques used in the opening are perhaps the most important since they determine, to a large extent,

'the progress of the other two portions of the game. The importance of the opening is evidenced by-the many publications that have been dedicated solely to this facet of the game, for example: Chess Openings by I. A. Horowitz, published by Simon and Schuster, 1964; Modern Chess Openings by Walter Korn, published by 'Pitman Publishing, 1972; and Ideas Behind the Chess Openings by Reuben Fine, published by D. McKay Co.,

Inc., 1972.

These efforts have resulted in the development of well-known opening sequences, each of which has a plurality of variations. Although these known sequences have been collected in various references such ber is placedbeneath the first member and is divided on its surface into a plurality of sectors. each of which is sequentially numbered and each of which contains a subvariation of one of the opening move sequence variations contained on the face of the first member. Each of the variations on the first member includes several chess moves and a number corresponding to one of the sectors on the second member. Rotating the first member so that the slot is positioned on a particular number thereby exposes'the moves comprising the desired subvariation.

In a second form of the invention. a third member is interposed between the first and second members. The third member also has a sector-shaped and sectorplaced slot and additionally has its surface divided into a plurality of sectors. each of which is sequentially numbered and each of which contains a subvariation of one of the opening move sequence variations on the face of the first member. Thus.- the slot in the first member can be positioned so as to expose a sector on the third member or, alternatively. the slots in the first and third members can be aligned so as to-expose a sector on the second member.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a plan view of one form of the tutorial device of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the tutorial device shown in FIG. 1 in which a portion of the top member is shown cut away so as to disclose the bottom member;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a modification of I the device shown in FIGS. I and 2; and

as those cited above, there has not heretofore been any I device that would enable a player to follow a particular sequence through all of its variations, or to quickly and easily determine what his next move should be during the course of a game involving that particular sequence.

Therefore, it is an object of this invention to provide quick and easy access to all the variations of a particu- SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION These and other objects of this invention are achieved by at least two indica-bearing members that are rotatably joined at their centers. The first such member has printed thereon the major variations of a particular chess opening sequence or defense. This member ideally takes the form of a disk and includes a sector-shaped and sector-"placed slot. A second mem- FIG. 4 is an exploded view of a second form of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION FIG. I shows a plan view of one form of the invention. A first disk, 100, is, rotatably connected to a second disk, 102, by pin 104 to form the chess wheel of this invention. Disks and 102 may comprise metal. paper, cardboard or plastic, and pin 104 may comprise a grommet or rivet made from any suitable material.

The opening move sequence shown printed on disk 100 in FIG. 1 is the well-known English Opening. This particular sequence was chosen for illustrative purposes only, as the invention is useful inconnection with any defense or opening. As is well-known to those having ordinary skill in the art of chess, opening sequences that are primarily offensive are called openings," while those that are primarily defensive are called defenses." Also, the word move" is used in a dual sense to denote a particular action of one player and also to denote the action of one player and the other players response thereto. In all cases, the meaning will be clear from the context.

Disk 100 shown in FIG. 1 contains eight variations of the English Opening, the variations being labeled "A through H. Each variation is distinguished by the position of the various pieces and the particular moves used to reach that position. The position that distinguishes each variation is termed the key" position. The moves necessary to reach the key position of each of the eight variations shown in FIG. 1 are shown in large dark letters. For example, the key position of variation A, the Four Knights Variation, is reached after three opening moves, while the key position of variation H, the Symmetrical Variation, is reached after four. Each variation then has a plurality of subvariations, the initial move of which is listed under the moves of its corresponding key position and is distinguished by a Roman numeral. The remaining moves comprising the alternative for each subvariation are listed in the sectors on the face of disk 102, and the first move of each subvariation listed on disk 100 has associated therewith one or more Arabic numerals that correspond to one of the numbered sectors of disk 102.

Disk 100 shown in FIG. 1 can also be seen to include a diagram 106 of a chess board showing Whites first move, P-QB4. This move characterizes the English Opening and hence diagram 106 serves to provide a visual indication of the opening that is shown on disk 100. Each version of the invention would contain an analogous diagram showing the appropriate opening moves that serve to uniquely define that opening sequence.

Disk 100 also contains sector-shaped and sectorplaced slot 108. This slot, when aligned with the appropriate sector of disk 102, exposes the remaining moves of a particular subvariation. As shown in FIG. 1, slot 108 is aligned with sector 1 of disk 102, thereby corresponding to the first of the five subvariations I of variation A, the Four Knights Variation.

Slot 108 has associated therewith a column 110 of Arabic numerals. These numerals serve to indicate the sequence numbers of the moves exposed by the slot. Hence, the. moves contained in each sector on disk 102 must be appropriately placed so as to be in proper alignment with the numbers in column 110 when slot pulled out of alignment. Alternatively, of course, arcuate portion 112 could be eliminated, thereby extending slot 108 to the very edge of disk 100.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the invention showing a portion of disk 100 cut away, thereby exposing several sectors of disk 102. As discussed above, the moves contained in each sector of disk 102 are placed within the sector so as to align properly with the numbers in column 110 associated with slot 108. This is necessary because the subvariations do not all start with the same move. All subvariations of variation A, for example, start with move 4, while all subvariations of variation B start with move 3.

' Some of the moves shown in the sectors in FIG. 2 are printed in darker letters than the remaining moves.

5 to Queen 4. In sector 2, the moves of the first alterna-.

tive are repeated down to the sixth move of black. At this point in the alternative shown in sector 2, the move is seen to be Bishop to Knight 5 rather than Pawn to Kings Knight 3 as shown in the preceding alterna-.

tive of sector 1. Similarly, the alternative shown in sector 3 contains the same moves as that shown in sector 2 until the ninth move of white is reached. at which point the alternativeshown in sector 3-deviates from that shown in sector 2.

FIGS. 1 and 2 show chess moves in what is commonly termed the American" notation. as will be obvious to those with ordinary skill in the art. The particular chess notation used to denote the moves forms no part of this invention. For example, the invention could be readily adopted to utilization of the "International?" or "Algebraic" notation in which the columns of the chess board are denoted by the letters A through G. moving from left to right. and the rows of the chess board are denoted by numerals 1 through 8, moving in a direction from bottom to top as the chess board faces each player.

The invention can be made more useful by incorporating a third disk as shown in the cross-sectional view of FIG. 3. As shown in FIG. 3, a third disk, disk 103, can be mounted on the opposite side of disk 102 from the side that contains disk 100. Disk 102 would then be divided into sectors on both sides, with both sides then containing subvariations of opening move sequences contained on the face of disks and 103. Disk 103 would also of course include a sector-shaped and sector-placed slot. This would provide a two-sided chess wheel. Such a chess wheel could contain two different opening sequences, one on each side. or. alternatively, an opening sequence having a large number of variations could be placed partially on one side and partially on the other, thereby permitting the sectors on disk 102 to be larger in size and thereby facilitating the placing of the required information in the sectors. For example. disk 102 shown in FIG. 1 contains sixty sectors. However, variations F, G and H shown on disk 100 refer to sector numbers sixty-one through sixty-nine. These sectors would be contained on the other side of disk 102 .and would be viewed through the sector-shaped and sector-placed slot of disk 103.

The invention may also be adopted to incorporate a greater amount of information in the manner shown in FIG. 4. FIG. 4 is an exploded view of the invention in which a third disk, disk 200, has been interposed between disk 100 and disk 102. Disk 200 contains a sector-shaped and sector-placed slot 208. The face of disk 200 is divided into a plurality of sectors 202. Sectors 202 are sequentially numbered in the same manner as the sectors of disk 102 as shown in FIG. 2, and they also each contain an alternative of a particular subvariation of one of the opening move sequence variations contained on the face of disk 100. Thus, for example, fiftynine alternatives could be contained in the sectors of disk 200 and sixty more could be in the sectors of disk 102. A user of the invention would therefore rotate disk 100 relative to disk 200 in order to align slot 108 with alternative 61 through 119. In order to expose alternatives 1 through 60, slots 108 and 208 would be aligned and both disks 100 and 200 would then be rotated together with respect to disk 102. Disk 200 may have a slightly smaller diameter than disk 102. This would permit all segment numbers on both disks 200 and 102 to be visible irrespective of the positions of slots 108 and 208. g Y

While the preferred embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the precise constructions herein disclosed, and that various changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the invention as defined in'the appended claims. For example, disk 102 could actually comprise a rectangularsupport member having printed thereon a circle containing the necessary information. The invention could also utilize more than one disk interposed between disk 100 and 102. These and other variations and modifications will be obvious to those of ordinary skill in the art.

What is claimed is: 1. An instructional device for teaching opening moves in the game of chess comprising: v

a first member having a sector-shaped and sectorplaced slot and'bearingindicia representing a plurality of variations of a particular opening move sequence, each variation comprising a plurality of moves leading to a particular position of the chess pieces, and each variation including a plurality of subvariationsfor the move following that move leadingto said particular position, each subvaria tion comprising the first move of a plurality of alternatives each comprising a sequence of moves that are to follow 'said'first move,.and each sub variation having associated therwith a plurality of sector numbers, each sector number being associated with a particular one of said alternatives;

a second member larger than said first member and bearing indicia dividing the surface of said second member into a plurality of sectors, said sectors a third member; interposed between said first and said second members, said third member larger than said first member and smaller than said sec ond member having a sector-shaped and sector placedslot of the .samesize as said slot in said first member and bearing indicia dividing the surface of 45 said third member lilillllfilillliiilfifiifl sectors being consecutively numbered and corresponding in dimensionto the size of said slot in said first member, each of said sectors containing asequence of moves corresponding to a specific one of 50 the alternatives associated withaparticular one of said subvariations of said particular opening move sequence contained on saidfirst member. 3.. The educational device of claim 2 wherein said second member comprises a disk.

4. The educational device of claim 2 wherein said first member comprises a disk.

5. The educational device of claim 2 wherein said second member further includes a representation of a chess board showing an opening position'that serves to uniquely identify said particular opening move sequence.

' 6. The educational device of claim 5 wherein said indicia are in the American notational form.

7. Theeducational device of claim 5 wherein said in dicia are in the Algebraic Notation. V 8. An educational device for teaching opening moves 5 in the game ofchess comprising:

0 moves leading to a particular position of the Chess pieces, and each variation including a plurality of subvariations for the move following that move leading to said particular position, each, subvariation comprising the first move of a plurality of alternatives, each comprising a sequence of moves that are to follow said first move. and each subvariation havingassociated therewith a plurality of sector numbers. each sector number being associated with a particular one of said alternatives:

a second member having a sector-shaped and sectorplaced slot and bearing indicia representing a second plurality of variations of said particular. open- .ing move sequence,-cach variation comprising a plurality of moves leading to a particular position of the chess pieces, and each variation including a plurality of subvariations for. the move following that move leading to said particular position. each subvariation comprising the first move of a plurality of alternatives, each comprising .a sequence of v moves that are to follow said first move. and each subvariation having associated therewith a plurality of sector numbers, each sector number being associated with a particular one of said alternatives: a third member larger than said first and said second members, having a first side bearing indicia dividing the surface of said first side into a plurality of sectors, said sectors being consecutively numbered and corresponding in dimension to the size of said slot in said first member. each of said sectors con- 40 taining a sequence of moves corresponding to a specific one of the alternatives associated with a particular one of said subvariations of said particular opening move sequence contained on said first member, and said third member having a second side, bearing indicia dividingthe surface of the said second side into a plurality of sectors, said sectors being consecutively numbered and corresponding in dimension to the size of said slot in said second member, each .of said sectors containing a sequence of moves corresponding to a specific one of the alternatives associated with a particular one of said subvariations of said particular opening move sequence contained on said second member; and means for rotatably connecting said first member to said first side of said, third member, and said second member to said second side of said third member.

9. The educational'device' of claim 8 wherein said first member comprises a disk.

a disk. 

1. An instructional device for teaching opening moves in the game of chess comprising: a first member having a sector-shaped and sector-placed slot and bearing indicia representing a plurality of variations of a particular opening move sequence, each variation comprising a plurality of moves leading to a particular position of the chess pieces, and each variation including a plurality of subvariations for the move following that move leading to said particular position, each subvariation comprising the first move of a plurality of alternatives each comprising a sequence of moves that are to follow said first move, and each subvariation having associated therwith a plurality of sector numbers, each sector number being associated with a particular one of said alternatives; a second member larger than said first member and bearing indicia dividing the surface of said second member into a plurality of sectors, said sectors being consecutively numbered anD corresponding in dimension to the size of said slot in said first member, each of said sectors containing a sequence of moves corresponding to a specific one of the alternatives associated with a particular one of said subvariations of said particular opening move sequences contained on said first member; and means for rotatably fastening the center of said first member to the center of said second member.
 2. The instructional device of claim 1 further comprising: a third member, interposed between said first and said second members, said third member larger than said first member and smaller than said second member having a sector-shaped and sector-placed slot of the same size as said slot in said first member and bearing indicia dividing the surface of said third member into a pluality of sectors, said sectors being consecutively numbered and corresponding in dimension to the size of said slot in said first member, each of said sectors containing a sequence of moves corresponding to a specific one of the alternatives associated with a particular one of said subvariations of said particular opening move sequence contained on said first member.
 3. The educational device of claim 2 wherein said second member comprises a disk.
 4. The educational device of claim 2 wherein said first member comprises a disk.
 5. The educational device of claim 2 wherein said second member further includes a representation of a chess board showing an opening position that serves to uniquely identify said particular opening move sequence.
 6. The educational device of claim 5 wherein said indicia are in the American notational form.
 7. The educational device of claim 5 wherein said indicia are in the Algebraic Notation.
 8. An educational device for teaching opening moves in the game of chess comprising: a first member having a sector-shaped and sector-placed slot and bearing indicia representing a plurality of variations of a particular opening move sequence, each variation comprising a plurality of moves leading to a particular position of the chess pieces, and each variation including a plurality of subvariations for the move following that move leading to said particular position, each subvariation comprising the first move of a plurality of alternatives, each comprising a sequence of moves that are to follow said first move, and each subvariation having associated therewith a plurality of sector numbers, each sector number being associated with a particular one of said alternatives; a second member having a sector-shaped and sector-placed slot and bearing indicia representing a second plurality of variations of said particular opening move sequence, each variation comprising a plurality of moves leading to a particular position of the chess pieces, and each variation including a plurality of subvariations for the move following that move leading to said particular position, each subvariation comprising the first move of a plurality of alternatives, each comprising a sequence of moves that are to follow said first move, and each subvariation having associated therewith a plurality of sector numbers, each sector number being associated with a particular one of said alternatives; a third member larger than said first and said second members, having a first side bearing indicia dividing the surface of said first side into a plurality of sectors, said sectors being consecutively numbered and corresponding in dimension to the size of said slot in said first member, each of said sectors containing a sequence of moves corresponding to a specific one of the alternatives associated with a particular one of said subvariations of said particular opening move sequence contained on said first member, and said third member having a second side bearing indicia dividing the surface of the said second side into a plurality of sectors, said sectors being consecutively numbered and corresponding in dimension to the size of said slot in said second member, each of said sectors containing a sequence of moves corresponding to a specific one of the alternatives associated with a particular one of said subvariations of said particular opening move sequence contained on said second member; and means for rotatably connecting said first member to said first side of said third member, and said second member to said second side of said third member.
 9. The educational device of claim 8 wherein said first member comprises a disk.
 10. The educational device of claim 8 wherein said second member and said third member each comprise a disk. 